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The program Crash Reduction Analyzing Statistical History, or C.R.A.S.H, predicts traffic risks across the state.
Officials said the goal of the program is to help law enforcement become proactive instead of reactive when it comes to accidents.

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The Tennessee Highway Patrol is testing a software system they say is revolutionary. The program - Crash Reduction Analyzing Statisical history or CRASH - predicts traffic risks across the state. 8-13-14

Kelsey Pape, 7:03 p.m. EDT August 13, 2014

The program Crash Reduction Analyzing Statistical History, or C.R.A.S.H, predicts traffic risks across the state.
Officials said the goal of the program is to help law enforcement become proactive instead of reactive when it comes to accidents.(Photo: WBIR)

(WBIR) The Tennessee Highway Patrol is testing a software system they say is revolutionary. The program Crash Reduction Analyzing Statistical History, or C.R.A.S.H, predicts traffic risks across the state.

Officials said the goal of the program is to help law enforcement become proactive instead of reactive when it comes to accidents.

"This data and this program can not only tell us when accidents are going to happen but they can put a probability on percentage wise," said Lt. Don Boshears, Tennessee Highway Patrol.

THP analysts plug all sorts of factors into the software, including big upcoming events, and study the data.

"What our supervisors and the troops will do, is take that data that they get from Nashville through our research team and they'll deploy our troopers where the data says we need to be working," Lt. Boshears said.

It will then give predictions of when and where serious or fatal traffic accidents are most likely to happen.

"They take that data and they look at where the highest probability of crashes are occurring. Whether it be location, day of the week, and time of day," Lt. Boshears said.

THP said it's hard to tell how effective the program is at saving lives after just six months. But according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, interstate fatalities have reduced significantly this year compared to 2013.

"You have to make sure that you're aware of your surroundings and do not drive distracted," said Mark Nagi, TDOT community relations director. "Current statistics from this point in 2014 as compared to this point in 2013, there are 40 less fatalities which is certainly a positive sign."

Officials said the software does a lot more than just help predict traffic patterns.

"It can break it down to what kind of crash it is," Lt. Boshears said. "Whether it's a non-injury crash, whether it's an injury crash, whether it's impaired driving related, speed related, distracted driving related. It can really break down where these types of crashes are happening."

THP said the entire C.R.A.S.H program cost $243,000. Grants from the Governor's Highway Safety Office funded the program.